Press Release for Friday, January 9, 2009

Johns Hopkins Neurosurgeon Speaks at MLK Luncheon

One of the nation’s foremost physicians and scientists Dr. Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr. will be the featured speaker at the 28th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Luncheon. He will discuss “Take the Risk: A Rational Approach to Taking Risks.”

The scholarship luncheon, presented by the University of North Florida’s Intercultural Center for PEACE, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, at the University Center Banquet Hall on the UNF campus.

Carson, a full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, was named by CNN and TIME Magazine as one of the nation’s 20 foremost physicians and scientists, and he was selected by the Library of Congress as one of 89 “Living Legends” on the occasion of its 200th anniversary.

His career highlights include the first separation of Siamese twins joined at the back of the head in 1987; the first completely successful separation of type-2 vertical Siamese twins in 1997 in South Africa and the first successful placement of an intrauterine shunt for a hydrocephalic twin.

Carson is a highly regarded motivational speaker who has addressed audiences from school systems and civic groups to corporations and the President’s National Prayer Breakfast. He has authored three books. His latest book, “Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose and Live with Acceptable Risk,” was released early last year.

He holds more than 50 honorary doctorate degrees and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, the Horatio Alger Society of Distinguished Americans and many other prestigious organizations. He sits on the board of directors of numerous organizations, including Kellogg Company, Costco Wholesale Corporation as well as the Academy of Achievement and is an Emeritus Fellow of the Yale Corporation, the governing body of Yale University.

Tickets for the luncheon are $30 for individuals; $500 for silver-level corporate tables (including a table for eight and table signage); and $1,000 for gold-level corporate tables (including a table for eight, table signage, preferred seating, recognition in the program and a thank you from the podium during the luncheon).

Tickets can be ordered online at http://capricorn.anf.unf.edu/unftbo3/shopdisplaycategories.asp or at the UNF Ticket Box Office at (904) 620-2878. Free tickets are available to 100 UNF students with ID on a first-come, first-served basis.